1007. Shirou's Scabbard / 1008. The Amazing Scabbard ...

"No! You come with me first to sell these materials. Let's go over there," her sister Tione said.

After finishing her own business, Sword Princess Ais went to the blacksmith's shop.

The clanging of hammers echoed from the blacksmith's shop. Shirou had dragged Bell back there and was now forging new equipment.

Having changed into new gear, now clad in silver-white armor, Bell was helping out when he turned and saw the blonde girl who had asked for directions. He let out a strange cry, and the materials he was carrying fell to the ground.

"Aaaaaah!!!"

"..." Miss Ais frowned slightly, to a degree unseen by others. She had wanted to apologize to the boy yesterday, but being tongue-tied, she couldn't find the right opportunity. Now, she was even starting to wonder if the boy disliked her.

I mentioned this to my fellow clan members before, and they laughed at me, saying it was definitely because of her overly brutal swordsmanship that the boy, now covered in blood and looking like a tomato, was terrified.

Shirou turned around upon hearing the sound, a look of understanding dawning on him. He greeted the person entering through the door:

Good morning, Miss Ais.

"Good morning," the blonde swordswoman, who looked like a doll, greeted.

"Oh, isn't this Miss Loki Familia? Long time no see," Tsubaki greeted Ais with a smile.

Chun is arguably one of the most outstanding blacksmiths in the entire city, second only to the gods, and possesses a combat strength of level 5.

Since gods cannot enter dungeons, blacksmiths like Chun, who possess the strength of top-tier adventurers, are highly sought-after figures by all expedition teams aiming to conquer dungeons.

In fact, she has cooperated with the Loki Familia on several occasions, taking care of maintaining and repairing the weapons of other adventurers after they ventured deep into the dungeons. In case of special circumstances, they can also fight together.

"Did you bring your sword?" Shirou asked.

"Hmm." Ais nodded, took off her beloved sword, and handed it to Shirou.

This is a precious sword with a blue scabbard. On the left and right sides of the guard are lightning-shaped spikes, one pointing upwards and the other downwards. When the sword is drawn from its scabbard, it flashes with a silver light.

"It's a fine sword, but I also noticed before that its attack power is somewhat lacking," Shirou said, examining the sword.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a loud bang came from outside the door, and an old man with a bare chest stormed in, carrying a hammer.

"You little bastard!!! You really dare to say that!"

Chapter 1007 Shirou's Sword Sheath

The one who barged in was a god-like figure with the appearance of an old man. His face, etched with wrinkles, was handsome, with a high nose. He had a head of white hair and a white beard that was just long enough to cover his mouth. His burly body had no excess fat, and his muscles were firm, vaguely reminiscent of a dwarf.

He stormed in, yelling and shouting in a fit of rage, and overheard Shirou's evaluation of Ais's weapon, which only fueled his fury.

"Hey! Gubinyu, what's wrong with you here?" The red-haired, one-eyed goddess Hephaestus came out and yelled.

"Enough with the nonsense! Hephaestus, your people dare to steal my customers and even criticize my work. If you can't show some real skill, this isn't over!!!" the old man cursed angrily.

"Shirou isn't the kind of person who would cheat or be dishonest; it just means your work is outdated!" Hephaestus said mockingly.

"Wait, two gods, um? May I ask which god you are?" Shirou asked.

"I am Gubinyu!!!" the old man said angrily.

"Sorry~! I accidentally let it slip." Tiona, who was running up behind, clasped her hands together and stuck out her tongue.

She and her sister had sold some things, but since they happened to pass by the Gubunyu Familia, they went in and exchanged a few words. Everything else was fine. However, when Gubinyu heard that Ais had gone to find another blacksmith, he became furious, grabbed Tiona, demanded the address, and rushed over.

Although the Gubunyu Familia is far less well-known and less powerful than its larger counterparts, the Hephaestus Familia, the quality of their weapons is comparable, making them a truly practical and resilient family. They mostly produce weapons only after receiving a commission, and having many core adventurers (fans) is also one of their characteristics.

The badge adorning the doorway features three hammers.

Ais possesses the "Sword of Despair," a first-tier special weapon crafted by the Gubunyu Familia. No matter how intense the battle, how many blows she makes, or how much blood she sheds, the silver blade never dulls.

Gubinyu is the chief god of forging and construction, an old man with long white hair who appears to be in his fifties or sixties. He endowed Ais's sword with the "Durandal" Indestructible Attribute, meaning it will never break. By sacrificing power bonuses, it only retains the base stats of a level 1 weapon, without any other bonuses. Therefore, its destructive power is among the lowest compared to other level 1 equipment, but it will never be damaged in battle.

These are special weapons with attributes, crafted by one of the most skilled blacksmiths in the labyrinth city of Orario. They are high-quality products made by blacksmiths who have received a "blessing," and are considered top-tier among these rare special weapons.

These custom-made weapons are as vital as life itself to adventurers. The blacksmiths who accept the commissions also keep this trust firmly in mind, working tirelessly for a week to polish their creations to perfection, so as not to let them down.

In order to continue the fight, even if it's just for one more second, Ais chose this Sword of Despair as her weapon, entrusting her trust to Gubinyu, the god of craftsmen.

Anyone who dares to criticize the Sword of Despair is provoking its creator, Gubinyu.

"Well, please don't be angry yet. I'm not denying your work, nor do I intend to make any modifications to the sword with its immortality attribute. I just want to improve it from other aspects." Shirou calmed the old god's temper and continued logically:

"Even with the attribute of immortality, there are still areas that need adjustment. Don't you think so? At least that's what this sword tells us right now. Take a look if you don't believe me."

Shirou handed Ais's sword to the old god and said.

"Hmm..." Gubinyu picked up the sword and examined it carefully, correctly judging the signs of wear through the dark luster of the blade.

Although a sword with the Indestructible Attribute will never break, its sharpness and power will still decrease. This is unlikely to happen under normal use, but unfortunately, Ais is not an ordinary person. Of course, Gubinyu wouldn't forge weapons for ordinary people.

"The blade is severely degraded. What exactly did you cut?" Gubinyu turned around and asked the girl in surprise.

"A liquid that can melt anything, and a monster that spews out that liquid, I've slashed at it several times..." Ais whispered.

"Indeed... in this situation, even I would need several days to repair it without using Divine Power." Gubinyu admitted, but then he looked up at Shirou and questioned, "But do you have any better method, boy?"

"Well, for now, the sword has reached its limit without better materials. So I plan to start with the scabbard," Shirou said with a light laugh.

"Sheath?" the crowd exclaimed in surprise.

A fine sword needs a fine scabbard. Since ancient times, the sharper the sword, the better the scabbard it needs. Legend has it that there are even scabbards more precious than swords. The scabbard is not only a tool for storing the sword, but also plays a role in protecting its owner and keeping the sword sharp.

"A fist is most intimidating before it is thrown, and a sword is most powerful before it is drawn from its sheath."

Shirou, holding the sword, walked back to the workbench, where a scabbard was already mostly complete. The scabbard body was made of dragonwood and golden nanmu wood, and the inside of the scabbard was filled with a material for nurturing the sword, ensuring that the blade could be smoothly fitted in without causing any wear or inconvenience.

Shirou picked up the engraving knife and began to carve special patterns onto the outside of the scabbard, giving it a final touch.

Above are epic tales of human heroes, pyramids bathed in the light of the sun, ship rudders of great voyages, chains with pointed tips, Holy Lance encircled by swirling light, and cubs resembling cats, dogs, and squirrels, as well as shields capable of blocking everything.

Then, using special magical pigments, the entire scabbard was coated with blue, while the engraved parts were painted silver. After being slightly heated over a fire, the magical pigments emitted a fluorescent glow and then solidified, remaining intact for decades without peeling or fading.

"Oh, oh, oh!" Everyone exclaimed in unison.

Regardless of its power, it at least looks beautiful. Although it is just a scabbard, it seems to record the miraculous journey of mankind.

Even the blacksmiths working nearby couldn't help but come closer, their eyes fixed on the scene, unwilling to look away. This was a new genre never before seen in the world, a priceless work of art.

Compared to Ais's original scabbard, the scabbard in Shirou's hand seems to be the true match for the Sword of Despair, fitting it better and making it appear more noble, elegant, and sacred when slipped into it.

"Give it a try!" Shirou sheathed the Sword of Despair and handed it to Ais.

Chapter 1008 The Magical Sheath

The blonde girl Ais, took the Sword of Despair, now sheathed in a new scabbard, and stroked the engravings on the scabbard, feeling its renewed feel.

The Amazon girl Tiona, standing nearby, spoke with even greater anxiety than Ais:

"Ais, hurry up! Come and try it!"

The Amazon girl's older sister, Tione, chimed in, "Yeah, whether it's useful or not, we'll know once we try it out."

The red-haired goddess and the blacksmiths around her changed their expressions upon hearing this.

"Should we use this armor or the shield? Let's give it a try!" Tiona ran to the weapon rack and picked up the equipment hanging on the wall.

The goddess of crafts Hephaestus, hurriedly spoke up, "Wait! Don't try it here! I know! I know! Just get outside! I happen to have a place suitable for you, come with me!!!"

"Oh, let's go!" The Amazon girl pushed the blonde girl Ais towards the outside.

"Gods, you can see for yourselves that I wasn't lying. Bell, let's go." Shirou said to the old god, then beckoned the boy to walk outside.

"Ah! Yes!" Bell replied.

"Hmph! I'd like to see what a brat like you can do!" Gubinyu still snorted angrily and followed after him.

Hephaestus led everyone to the backyard where forging materials were stored. There was a small mountain of iron ore piled up there. When needed, the blacksmiths of the clan would simply take the smaller pieces scattered around and carry them away for convenience. No one wasted time mining this iron ore, so the small mountain had been preserved.

"This is the pile of iron ore. You can chop it however you like," Hephaestus said to the blonde girl. Since it was just sitting there unused, Hephaestus decided to let Ais test the sword on it. Chopping it up would save them some trouble.

"If you want to use True Magic, it will be more effective before you draw your sword," Shirou said.

"Then I'll go! Awaken..." Ais gripped the hilt of her sword and activated her Wind Magic, Wind Spirit Dash, True Magic that uses wind to envelop herself, enhancing her attack, defense, speed, and short-range flight ability.

The wind gathered in the scabbard in the girl's hand, and the swirling blue wind poured into the sword. At the same time, the scabbard was also absorbing the same energy, faintly shimmering with a blue light, and even the engravings on it seemed to come alive.

At that very moment, the girl moved.

The sword was drawn, its blade swirling with a storm. Compared to when True Magic was usually cast, its color was more intense, the True Magic's effect concentrated into a single point.

With her long golden hair flowing, the girl transformed into a blur and rushed towards the iron ore hill.

One sword thrust out, followed by countless sword shadows.

Rumble!!!

The moment the first shot landed, the iron ore hill trembled.

Ais's eyes widened. This was a power she had never achieved before. Overjoyed, she thrust her sword forward with even greater force.

Ding ding ding!!

The iron ore hill groaned incessantly as it was pierced through, creating a hole in each hole. Under the influence of wind True Magic, the three-meter-wide hill was eventually pierced through.

Several seconds later, Ais finished a full combo before stopping.

The iron ore hill had changed beyond recognition. Tiona stepped forward and pried at a crack, breaking off a large chunk of iron ore with a gasp.

Wow! That's amazing! That's incredible!

"Hmm, so powerful." Ais looked at the sword in her hand, quite pleased with it.

"Hey, don't say it out loud!" The Amazon sisters laughed and hugged Ais, congratulating their friend on obtaining powerful weaponry.

Seeing this, Hephaestus's eyes gleamed with astonishment, for this power had exceeded the limits achievable by a sword of this caliber. Ais was using a rapier, primarily designed for thrusting rather than heavy strikes, with wind True Magic amplifying its thrusting power.

The very first strike was the most obvious; it didn't seem like a stab from a rapier, but rather like a hole punched out by a massive spear.

"Boy! The scabbard you made has the effect of concentrating True Magic power at a single point on the blade," said the elderly god Gubinyu.

Shirou nodded in agreement, "Yes, as you can see, if you consistently nurture it with True Magic, its power can become even stronger. Moreover, having concentrated magical energy enveloping the blade can protect the sword and prevent it from wearing down easily. Weapons like the Sword of Despair, forged from special steel with the attribute of immortality, only require regular maintenance to prevent wear and tear and a reduction in damage."

In fact, the most important function is to contain power. Shirou got inspiration from the ancient Chinese classics he had read in his previous life. Among the ancient sword immortals, there would be those who practiced the Hidden Sword Style, who were said to not draw their swords for three years, but when they did, a million corpses would fall.

Shirou deliberately didn't inlay Magic Stone with special effects on the scabbard, instead choosing to use only special wood to maintain its integrity. When the sword is sheathed, the scabbard becomes sealed, and the injected energy forms a cycle. It continuously flows around the blade, nourishing the blade while the energy accumulates, growing larger and larger, and never being lost.

Until the moment it was drawn from its sheath, all the magic was concentrated on the blade.

This allowed the first strike, delivered with the drawn sword, to unleash two, three, or even five or six times its original power.

"So, are you satisfied with the answer I've given you?" Shirou asked the old god.

"Hmph! Well done! I have no objections! A fine sword deserves a fine scabbard! However! Sword Princess! You still need to send your sword back to me later. I must handle the repairs! That's all! I'm leaving now!" Gubinyu glared and puffed out his beard, but Shirou had no choice but to run away.

"Haha, even that stubborn old man has his moments of admitting defeat. You're something else!" Hephaestus said, patting Shirou on the shoulder.

"No, I just used a shortcut." Shirou shook his head. This was already the limit. A better scabbard would require methods beyond human capabilities. As for Avalon, it would require the forging techniques of a planet's consciousness to complete.

"But it's not a sword, it's a scabbard. This is a different approach, avoiding competition from many blacksmith shops. For a short time, no one can compete with you in this area. If you start a brand now, you can earn a lot of money, and your wish may be fulfilled." Hephaestus said to Shirou.

"Yes, I hope so." Shirou nodded and said softly. To achieve his goal, he needed a huge amount of funds.

Chapter 1009 It was agreed that it wouldn't cost money.

Shirou's goal is to resolve the fiery anomaly that has appeared in the dungeon, because it is actually caused by the legendary fire giant that caused Ragnarok.

Orario is based on Greek gods, but in terms of strength, the Greek pantheon is only on par with the Norse pantheon. If the Fire Giant were to appear, the entire Orario would be destroyed.

And this is based on the premise that only the Flame Giant monster has infiltrated the maze.

"Um, Mr. Shirou, I really like the scabbard. How much does it cost?" Ais asked as she approached, carrying the scabbard.

"No need, you can have it," Shirou replied softly.

"No! I can't accept that, please let me pay." Ais said, waving her hand.

"Yes..." Shirou smiled warmly and then agreed, "After all, this is the first work I'm using to open up the market, so I think even if I sell it at a lower price, it should still cost at least 100 million faeli."

"Eh?! Eh?!!" Bell and the two Amazon girls exclaimed in surprise.

"One... one... hundred million?" Tione had spent ages haggling with acquaintances at the pharmacy to sell a rare medicinal herb for over ten thousand more falies, but Shirou had only been fiddling with it for less than a few hours, and even including collecting the materials, it wouldn't have taken more than three days. And he'd sold it for a hundred million?

"One hundred million!!! Why don't you just rob someone!!!" The short-haired girl Tiona, blurted out.

"Yeah, bro! It's way too expensive," Bell chimed in.

"Well, the price isn't too expensive. With this scabbard, it's like having an extra chance to unleash your full power, which is a strategic boost to combat strength. I believe that from now on, all top-tier swordsmen will be using a scabbard made by Shirou when they change their swords." The red-haired goddess Hephaestus said. As an industry benchmark where a weapon costs at least 200 million, her words carried immense authority.

"Waaah..." The two Amazon girls had no way to refute it.

"Yes, yes, after all, this can be described as a revolutionary feat." The blacksmiths nearby nodded in agreement.

"Although we've gotten special items like jewelry and rings from drops in the maze before, they're so rare. Everyone's focused on weapons, and nobody thought to put effort into something as common as a sheath. That's genius," someone exclaimed.